What We’re Reading 7/30/09
Reuters: IMF to Boost Funds, Revamps Lending to Poor Nations
The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday it was mobilizing up to $17 billion in new resources to lend to the world’s poorest countries seen most at risk from the global economic crisis. The Fund also said it will temporarily freeze interest rate payments on outstanding credit for 60 low-income countries over the next two and a half years. The announcement represented a major overhaul of the fund’s previous lending practices as it tries to limit the damage to developing countries from the global crisis.
New York Times: Trials Strengthen Mugabe’s Hand
A deputy minister from Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party is set to appear in court today, accused of stealing a cellphone from a Robert Mugabe loyalist. The case highlights accusations that Mr. Mugabe is still seeking to reassert his absolute grasp on power and unseat MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai. 16 other Tsvangirai supporters currently face charges and may have to go to court. None of Mr. Mugabe’s supporters, accused by human rights groups of waging a campaign of terror during last year’s election season, have been prosecuted.
The Monitor (Uganda): East Africa: Region May Delay Trade Pact with EU
The East African Community (EAC) bloc is likely to delay signing a new trade deal with the European Union because fresh issues have been introduced in the negotiations, Tanzania’s trade minister said. The five bloc members Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi are among nearly 80 countries of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group in talks on a new pact with the EU. The agreement is meant to replace current preferential arrangements that have been struck down by the World Trade Organization.
Reuters: Kenyan Ministers Meet over Election Violence Court
Kenya’s divided cabinet met today in an attempt to reach a consensus on dealing with the masterminds of last year’s post-election violence. While some see justice for the 2008 chaos as crucial to future stability in east Africa’s largest economy — which faces its next election in 2012 — others warn a judicial process could destabilize Kenya by stirring up old hatreds. Foreign donors, disillusioned Kenyans and local markets, which bombed during last year’s crisis and have been jittery over coalition divisions, are following the debate closely.
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July 31, 2009 at 8:29 am
Climate change has become an issue that is affecting every living thing on earth. It is true that it is not the making of the underdeveloped nations, however my problem is the attitude of leaders of the poor nations that are the worst affected in this whole climate change business.
What excuse do our leaders have to permit those who have polluted our planet, earth, to now come to our nations to do what they can no longer do in their own nations? Again, what will it take for our leaders to ensure that their citizens get a fair deal from the international negotiations they make on our behalf.
I am asking these questions because, it seems our leaders have not yet woken up to the threats of global warming and climate change so that they can institute the required attitudinal changes and respect to the environment that are expected from all of us as inhabitants of this world. I do not think we can call ourselves wise people if we can not learn from other people’s experiences. If India is having problems with smooking vehicles in their cities at this stage, we in Ghana do not have to reach that level before doing something in that direction.
Those who first introduced energy efficient bulbs recognised the problem with the toxicity of the chemicals that bring about that efficiency in energy and so put in place how these energy efficient bulbs must be disposed of. However, the same can not be said of the situation in Ghana here. We only hear of the CFL bulbs being energy efficient and they are left to the discretion of the user to dispose of it any how he or she chooses. I can forsee what we will be saddle with in a few decades to come. The same applies to the used laptop, car and other radioactive batteries. It is hard to belive that after all these years, Ghana can not have what it takes to proactively solve problems before they become apparent. We need leaders who are proactive as well as reactive to our problems in finding lasting solutions in every sphere of nation building.